Top Tent Camping near Rural Retreat, VA

Looking for the best options for tent camping near Rural Retreat? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Rural Retreat. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near Rural Retreat, VA (38)

Showing results 1-10 of 38 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews In Rural Retreat

641 Reviews of 38 Rural Retreat Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from Observation Knob Park
    September 9, 2024

    Observation Knob Park

    Waterfront camping

    Large County campground with electric and water with two pump out stations. spacious, hilly sites with some tree coverage along lake with boat ramp and capacity to tie your boat up at your site.

    Recommend a surge protector on your camper as there are no breakers on the electric hook up at the site (clustered elsewhere).

    Stayed here for a National water dog competition and the beach area was perfect for our group.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Willville Motorcycle Camp
    September 8, 2024

    Willville Motorcycle Camp

    Great stop!!

    Best campground I’ve stayed at on a bike. Very welcoming, quiet and peaceful. Few small town stores about a mile away including gas. Nice bath houses with shower. We had a fire every night and good conversation. Great stop, 10/10 I will make a point to be back!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Glen Lyn Town Park & Campground
    September 5, 2024

    Glen Lyn Town Park & Campground

    Campground

    Cute place off the freeway with water access and a playground, 6 mile hiking trail to waterfall and not far from town. There is a train station nearby and the trains are loud. They come by every now and then night and day, they do live music some nights and church gatherings where a man basically yells all night long. Lots of freeway noise so the nightly fee is kinda stupid considering you won't get any sleep if you stay here. The river is super planted so I wouldn't swim here either sadly.. and the showers have NO water presser yet you gotta pay for a bathroom key otherwise there's porta-potties by the dumpster.

  • Camper-submitted photo from New River Junction Campground
    September 3, 2024

    New River Junction Campground

    Ear Blaring Trains, Gross Bath house, Rocky River.

    THE TRAINS: HOLY HELL. The trains alone are reason enough not to camp here. Especially with a tent. Five trains between midnight and 5am. Every one of them blew the horn well past the crossing. This is not an exaggeration; it sounded like the trains were going to come through the tent. We might as well have been on the tracks themselves. We had to cover our 3yo daughters ears to keep her from getting scared awake during every train passing. The tent camping is closest to the tracks which makes zero sense to me as the RV's would be less subject to the noise and would block a lot of it from reaching the tents. The train schedule probably varies, but I assure you, it's not worth the roll of the dice. I would find somewhere else to camp, especially if you like the peace and quiet(which is a huge part of camping). I know this isn't really in their control, but it kind of is. They do mention that the trains do come through and that the guests don't usually mention it after the second night(probably because they leave after the first night LOL JK). They definitely sugar coat it. However, they need to have that in BOLD RED LETTERS"THE TRAINS ARE LOUD AS F**K". I would've just canceled the trip immediately and camped elsewhere. They need one of those huge sound blocking walls you see along the interstate. The Bathrooms: Bathrooms need work. The toilet seats are gross, the walls have mold on them, the shower curtains are piss yellow. All of which would cost around$80 to fix. Those are the"Campers Only" bathrooms. The"Tubing Showers" are basically a wooden shack with a pull string valve. Looks like something out of a horror film. Not sure why they even have them because the river will get you cleaner than those ever will. The River: The river is beautiful. Great views of the mountain sides. The views and fishing were the only saving grace. I was able to catch a small-mouth bass pretty quickly and missed a few others. The water ranges in depth, but nothing deeper than waste deep really. It's rocky and slippery so it's dangerous and not very family friendly. Especially for young children and older people. Honestly, my wife hated the river because it was so hard to move around. So while it looked nice and fished well, that was about it. Tubing: I didn't do the tubing, but I had family with me that did and they said it was NOT worth the money. The water level was said to be good for it, but they said they dragged their butts the majority of the way. I also think that their base level tubes they rent out are not enough to keep you high enough out of the water. They look like inner tubes from some sort of truck and they are not beefy enough for this application, you'll just droop through the middle. If you do tube, bring your own river tube or rent the premium versions with the bottom sewn in. The People: The people were very nice to us during our short stay. This was a non-issue. However, I think they should worry less about the grass and more about the amenities getting updated(build a new bathhouse building). For Young Kids: Nothing really available for younger kids to play on. No playgrounds or anything other than a few ride around toys and a basketball hoop. They have plenty of room for an awesome playground for much younger kids, but I don't think that's their focus. Conclusion: Would I ever stay at New River Junction again? Absolutely not. For me, camping is about getting away from the noise and my house is quieter than this place and I live on a busy street. The trains are awful for tent camping and I'm sure the thin-walled travel trailers too. Had it not been for the trains, the place would have been okay, but even the good parts weren't that great. I didn't set this trip up, a family member did. I'll never let her live this one down lol. Don't let the positive reviews mislead you. The majority of the reviews are from people there just for tubing. In all my years of tent camping, this was the worst trip I've ever had.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Little Tumbling Creek
    September 2, 2024

    Little Tumbling Creek

    Beautiful and peaceful

    Laurel bed lake at top is beautiful. Waterfalls on way up and good fishing along the way in tumbling creek. Flat field area for camping on way. Several spots by creek for van or tent camping.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Scales Trailhead Basecamp
    August 28, 2024

    Scales Trailhead Basecamp

    Isolated & wonderful!

    We've been going to Scales for several years now, & it's one of the few places we keep revisiting! Yes, the road in is rocky (& not short...probly 45 mins from the road to the campground), but anything with Subaru Outback ground clearance will be fine.

    The campground itself is great! It's right on the AT, so there are lots of through hikers that you'll see stop in for a night. That also means that there's lots of great hiking options! Our favorite parts are the beautiful views, wild ponies, & it's (usually) relatively quiet!

    Additionally, there are a lot of fire pits& there are pit toilets.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Fort Chiswell RV Park
    August 11, 2024

    Fort Chiswell RV Park

    New Price

    Dyrt says $40-$42. Price now is $56. Decent place. Easy on off off IH77. Prefer this to most KOA’s for value. Nice, tree filled sites, clean and well lighted shower rooms, rural setting, but near a city. Definitely would recommend.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Gentrys Landing
    July 29, 2024

    Gentrys Landing

    Nice but noisy

    The site is nice, tent stakes went in easily, and the shower is close by, clean and has hot water. The people running this are also very nice. The issue though is the highway the camp is next to, and the railroad across the river. The train do use it every other hour and do use their brakes and horns.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Cavitts Creek Park
    July 22, 2024

    Cavitts Creek Park

    Not suitable for motorcycle tent camping, wouldn't stay again

    Most campground reviews are from the RV crowd.  This is from the tent camper perspective, particularly motorcycle tent camping.  The roads/lanes in the park are paved, but otherwise where you would ride are lousy for motorcycles.  The "gravel" parking lot from the road to the office and in the RV/electric loop is more like rocks, and you stand a good chance of dropping your bike.  Park your bike on the asphalt drive and walk up to the office.  In addition, the tent parking spots are sloped upwards with some very slick crushed rock and are challenging for a motorcycle.  The office closes at 5 (4 on Sunday and probably Saturday) and there is no campground map posted to see where the tent camping area is. They have copies of the campground map in the office and I suggested they put one on the outside of the office door so people arriving after they close have a map to view.   The tent camping (primitive) is off a paved lane a lot further down the hill past the office.  The sign for the lane says primitive.  Straight up at the top of the hill for that lane is site 6 which is somewhat acceptable for motorcycle parking although you are not going to get good enough of a cell signal there to use any internet apps. You might get one bar to make calls or text.   At the top of that hill, take a left and go up a steep hill to the shower house and where sites 1 &2 are at.  At sites 1&2 and outside the shower house you can get a good enough signal (2 bars) to use internet apps.  The campground does have an open wifi, but it doesn't reach to the tent camping sites.  They should add some directional antennas to extend to that area.  Sites 1&2 are best for motorcycles if you can reserve one of them.  2 has a wide enough turn around that you could easily park a group of motorcycles there.  When you check in you are assigned a 4 digit code to unlock the shower house doors.  If you arrive after hours you'll have to ask another camper if they'll share their code with you like we had to.  Don't bother trying to call the campground number after hours to check in or ask for a code because you'll just their voicemail.  Bring a hammer or find a rock to hammer your tent stakes in because the ground where you would want to pitch a tent is mostly rock.  Being primitive there is no electric at the tent sites.  There is an outlet by the sink in the shower house if you need to charge your phone.  There aren't any external outlets at the shower house.  There is a spigot outside the shower house, but I did not open it to make sure it worked.  We got our water using the shower house sink.  The rate as of July 2024 is $10.50 PER TENT per night.  There is no discount for only using one site with several tents.  We (four bikes with 4 tents) stayed there four nights.  We would have left after the first night, but had paid for all four nights and also didn't want to have to pack everything up to look for a different campground.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Raccoon Holler Campground
    July 20, 2024

    Raccoon Holler Campground

    Nice Campground / Great Location

    I picked this campground because it was very close to Blue Ridge Parkway. My plan was to ride my motorcycle through this beautiful area of NC, but the rain didn't cooperate this trip. I camped in site 112. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. This was a last minute reservation and they had limited availability. The site is not very level and very tight for my 32 foot RV. The site had full hookups (water, sewer, 30 amp electric) that worked great. I walked most of the campground and there are some great sites. Most are wooded and reasonably spaced. Quite a few long term campers, but the rigs and sites were all very well kept. At $64 per night it is a little pricey, for site 112, but probably not for the campground and area as a whole. No grill, just a tire rim for campfires and a picnic table.

    Getting parked was a bit of a challenge to get things as level as possible and work around power stand and be able to get awning out to stay out of rain.

    I would camp here again and recommend others give it a try. Lots to do in this part of the NC mountains.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Creeper Trail Campground
    July 7, 2024

    Creeper Trail Campground

    Great getaway spot

    My husband and I stayed from the 4th of July to the 7th. The site was nice and level with a beautiful view. It’s a quiet, sleepy campground just perfect for relaxing by a fire. Be aware that only a few sites have septic. Pay attention to the site description. There is no cell phone reception anywhere around until you get to Damascus about 30 minutes away. The office/cafe does has WiFi. It is not park-wide though so plan ahead by downloading your maps and music, etc. The campground is owned and run by a couple who take great care to make sure your stay is pleasant. They have a cafe and small store in the office building. We had breakfast one morning - bacon, egg and cheese biscuit and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich - made on homemade bread and biscuits. So good! I also got a latte and it was amazing. We stopped in for pizza night and got a homemade pesto pizza. Don’t miss that one! Our camper has a bathroom but the camp bathrooms were incredible. Super clean and well-maintained. If you need diesel, nearly every gas station is gas-only. There is a nice gas station and cafe close by in Whitetop Station that carries diesel and has really good food. We stopped there on our way out and the biscuits and gravy were wonderful. The Virginia Creeper trail head is right around the corner from the entrance to the campground.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Stone Mountain State Park Campground
    July 1, 2024

    Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    One of our favorite state parks

    We’ve camped at Stone Mountain multiple times over the years. We tent-camped when my boys were small. Most recently in our RV (3-4 times in the past three years). It is a great park. The hiking is excellent. The campsites are large and spacious. The park is well-kept. Make sure you hike to the top. The views are great, and you can spend time at the Homestead farm in the valley below.

    We camped here this past weekend and enjoyed it once again. We were at site 56. It is an excellent site on the stream, with no site immediately next to you, so there is lots of privacy. The firepit, picnic table, water, and electricity are all great. We had limited cell service for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. We could send and receive text messages, but coverage was very spotty.

    We will be back again in the Fall.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Fries New RiverTrail RV Park
    June 30, 2024

    Fries New RiverTrail RV Park

    Great stop for trail and the New River access

    Almost all have shade large % of day. Full hook-ups. No campfires. Extremely clean. Only 20 sites. Walk to trail/river . Great little steakhouse Thursday to weekend. Supplies slim in Fries area. Cvs/Dollar General. Tom, owner is the best.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Utts Campground
    June 29, 2024

    Utts Campground

    Peaceful and safe

    Utt’s Campground is the hidden gem of VA! Not a fast paced family resort. But a calm quiet place to sit back, relax, feel the mountain breeze. We love it here. We stayed here from May to November. The monthly rates are super reasonable.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Walnut Flats
    June 1, 2024

    Walnut Flats

    Free

    nice little free campground with about 5 sites with grill fire rings level gravel drive with tent pad and lantern pole, restrooms but I didn't use them well water pump for drinking water but didn't use it, quiet, few people in and out I stayed just shy of 2 weeks and 1 other came in a few days after me and stayed the whole time I was there and both of us worked on our rv without any disturbances. trail right through the campground and the Apalation trail just across the road

  • Camper-submitted photo from Rural Retreat Lake Campground
    May 31, 2024

    Rural Retreat Lake Campground

    Lake is in the name

    there is a lake , I'm guessing it's a public lake due to the fact its outside the campground, I paid for a elec./water site and said if it's in the sun it's a bonus, the picnic table and site and the one above me have sun, however my solar panels do not, now if you want water and elec. you either need a 50' hose or extention cord because they are on opposite ends of the pull through , which I forgot to pay for one that might have been closer to level than a bowling ball. still haven't found the dumpster or a garbage can for that matter , pool is not included , again I'm guessing public.it was entertaining watching a poor fella with 2 young boys walk around for 30 minutes looking for their site, I'm in #41 and if you're so lucky to get thus spot , don't follow the signs telling you where the #'ed sites are because we're next to #53 and not in the 40's at all , we are however right next to the shower room ... I'll update my review after I explore thar situation tonight. it got 2 stars because so far it is peacefull with no other campers around, they probably learned their lesson their first stay too. $75.×× for 2 nights eventhough it says $30 a night. taxes must be killer here in Virginia. if it didn't rain everyday I been here and my batteries weren't hurting so badly I'd of just boondocked it another week in this gorgeous national forest for free. PS. don't bother with firewood on site #41 there's no ring. Update after shower, well I think I got Athletes foot just by looking inside, cold unfinished concrete floor, no mirror no hooks no shelf a very small bench and a trash can and on the floor what I could only describe as a rubber webbed mat you would usually see inside a garage. the water temp was OK for me but i enjoy a cold shower every now and again , there's only 2 settings ...yup on and off couple spiders got to watch me get dysentery but they were friendly. now back at camp enjoying the sweet smell of bathroom. yay. the showers and toilets are individual rooms with a rusty slide latch lock. dirty but I can only speak for the two I went into (the first shower door didn't shut) but I'd assume they're all pretty much the same. Definitely not worth $76

  • Camper-submitted photo from Scales Trailhead Basecamp
    May 31, 2024

    Scales Trailhead Basecamp

    Serious off road capability needed

    The road in is...."rocky". High clearance 4wd needed. Not ADV friendly, unless you're very adventurous. Access by horseback would be my #1 pick.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway
    May 30, 2024

    Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Quiet Mountain Campground

    On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground has been well maintained. Sites are ample but the asphalt pads were designed for shorter travel trailers, but include an extra pad for the tow vehicle. Many of the sites have upgraded concrete pads for the picnic table and built-in fire pits. There are no showers in the trailer (RV) loop, but does include a couple comfort station with flush toilets. Campground hosts were helpful and friendly. Sites are split between first come first serve and reservations. Payment at kiosk by credit card only.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Stony Fork Campground
    May 16, 2024

    Stony Fork Campground

    Great lowkey spot!

    Great spot, private, with good running water hot showers and flush toilets. Picnic table and fire ring with grate, the creek by our site was so nice and bubbling. Every spot was private and maintained. Absolutely no issues and was worth the $20, easy check in, self check out. Felt very safe here despite it being remote

  • Camper-submitted photo from IRON Peak Ranch
    May 2, 2024

    IRON Peak Ranch

    Tranquility on Reed Creek

    Booked Matthew's place for a last minute getaway to disconnect for a couple of days and it was perfect. You can tell Matthew takes very good care of his place and prides himself on providing us campers a memorable experience. Very tranquil along the water and Charlotte my GSP spent all day wearing herself out between the field chasing birds and her ball and up and down the creek. Opt in for the firewood and grill, it's totally worth it. Upon arrival there was no firewood so I messaged Matthew and a quick response back from Matthew and he had a friend show up with an F150 load of wood to use within the hour. I missed his name, but he was a really nice guy and stopped by the following day to make sure everything was okay and to ensure I had plenty of wood to use. We will definitely be back soon. Thank you again Matthew for letting us experience your property.



Guide to Rural Retreat

Camping near Rural Retreat, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails in the area. At Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park, one reviewer said, "Hiking is awesome. The kids LOVED the wild horses and the steer walking around." Trails like the Cabin Creek Trail are highly recommended for their breathtaking views.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A visitor at Stone Mountain State Park Campground mentioned, "The campground, paths, and bathrooms were very clean. Beautiful views at Rock Falls." You might spot deer or even wild ponies!
  • Fishing and Boating: Enjoy some time on the water at Claytor Lake State Park Campground. One camper noted, "Beautiful park! Scenic beach, nice trails." It’s a great spot for families who love water activities.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Royal Oak Campground — Hungry Mother State Park highlighted, "The bathroom facilities were very clean (heated, showers, flushable toilets)."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Mayberry Campground said, "Campground was nice, staff was helpful. Site was level." This makes it easier for families to set up and enjoy their stay.
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of campground staff. One review for Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA stated, "The staff was UNBELIEVABLY awesome and nice."

What you should know

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with amenities for kids. One family at Blue Bear Mountain Camp said, "Everything a small family with very young kids could need."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. A camper at Pilot Mountain State Park Campground noted, "The host is absolutely amazing. Great."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Keep everyone fueled up for adventures. A review for Wytheville KOA mentioned, "The pizza was good too."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Levels: Ensure your RV site is level for a comfortable stay. A visitor at Wytheville KOA pointed out, "A lot of the sites were not level."
  • Utilize Campground Amenities: Take advantage of on-site facilities like laundry and stores. One camper at Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA said, "They have a pool, a pond, a playground, a dog park, and a great camp store."
  • Plan for Weather: Be ready for changing weather conditions. A camper at Hungry Mother State Park mentioned, "We had a Creekside campsite, and it was absolutely spectacular."

Camping near Rural Retreat, Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some unforgettable memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rural Retreat, VA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rural Retreat, VA is Millrace Campground — New River Trail State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near Rural Retreat, VA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Rural Retreat, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.